An Ode to Silver Dollar City

This weekend my family is going to Silver Dollar City for the first time without me.  And although I'm major bummed I can't go, but a weekend with more driving than fun just doesn't sound too appealing and currently a trip just does not fit into our budget.  So in honor of this weekend's trip to SDC I am dedicating this post to how much I love Silver Dollar City. 

It truly is my most favorite place in the whole wide world, hands down.  And it all started in 1991 when a small little family from Ada, OK was given a trip by a very gracious little country church to go to Branson.  Which was almost as huge as going to Disney World for us.  So that was it my first trip!  This is where it all began.

My Dad and I at the Jail on our first trip.  

Then a few years later, add a sister, we move to Joplin, MO and what do we discover?  We live less than 2 hours from Silver Dollar City!! And I believe it was that year we got our very first Season passes.  So the trips began.  It was easy to get away for a Saturday to visit or to make a small vacation during the summers. 

I remember SDC when there was no Powder Keg or Wild Fire or Barnswing or Gyser Gulch.  My SDC was when there was still Huck Fins area and the balloons and kiddie roller coster that you went through three whole times before your ride was up! I remember when the Saloon Show was actually a show where there was a story line and they sang songs about "Good Clean Fun."  I remember when the Haygood boys were playing at the City and Tinker was still there at Christmas. 

 

Oh Christmas.  This starts me on a whole different soap box.  If I had to choose, Christmas at SDC is my most favoritest place ever.  Its kinda my Heaven on Earth.  I think that my mansion in Heaven will be like SDC at Christmas.  You may ask why would a grown woman love this so much.  Well, I love Christmas and going to SDC when the lights are all up, Christmas shows are going, and the shops are all decorated, listening to Grandpa quote the Christmas Story, and watching the tree light up, it just gets me to that place of Christmas.  Plus its our Family's tradition to go every year. Just check out my SDC Christmas Ornament Collection!  :)


Its funny how my trips to the City have changed over the years.  When I was younger it was all about the rides and maybe during KidsFest you could  get me to a show or two.  Oh like when Nickelodeon used to sponsor KidsFest and had Family Double Dare!! But now that I'm "older" I like to ride a few rides, but just soaking up the atmosphere, looking in the shops and seeing shows is enough for me.  Just the smell of hot asphalt, transforms me to SDC and I can almost hear the toot toot of the Steam Train.... oh wait thats just my text message tone.  ;)  I can quote the narration to Fire in the Hole and walk around the park with my eyes closed, but so what?  Why do I love Silver Dollar City?  I just do! 

Geoff and I this spring for our first trip of the season. 

Now, I'm off to ride Fire in the Hole!!